Gillibrand pushes tough standards for novice drivers

In some states, such as Texas and South Dakota, teenagers who score that all-important rite of adulthood — the driver’s license — are quickly given carte blanche to travel the roadways at all times of day and with as many passengers as can squeeze into seat belts.

But other states — such as New York — take a harder stance against novice drivers, with restrictions that ban them from nighttime driving, using cell phones behind the wheel or traveling with more than one passenger.

Now, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is pushing for stiff and uniform driver’s license standards nationwide, including a three-stage process that gradually steps newbie motorists up from learner’s permits to full, non-restricted licenses no earlier than age 18. She is pushing legislation that would force states to create such graduated drivers license programs for young motorists, by tying the requirement to federal transportation funding.

“Deadly car accidents are one of the most heartbreaking tragedies a family can go through,” Gillibrand said. But if young drivers have more time to learn the rules of the road and the responsibilities that come with driving, they will be less likely to be in accidents. “This legislation will give young drivers better education and more experience before they get out on the roads.”

According to Gillibrand’s office, more than 230,000 16- and 17-year-old drivers have licenses in New York — with 20,000 of them in the state’s capital region.

All 50 states now have some kind of graduated driver’s license programs, but they vary widely. For instance, six states issue learner’s permits to drivers as young as 14 and three states have no nighttime restrictions for teen drivers. In South Dakota, 16-year-olds can receive unrestricted licenses.

New York has one of the toughest systems for restricting novice motorists, with a three-stage licensing process that begins with a learner’s permit at age 16, followed by a junior driver license and, finally, an unrestricted license as early as 17 for those who have completed driver’s education programs. Teen drivers with learner’s permits or junior licenses must be accompanied by licensed adults over 21 and are barred from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 21 unless they are accompanied by parents, guardians or driving instructors.

In Texas, a three-stage licensing system begins at age 15, when teens can obtain learner’s permits they must keep for at least six months before they can seek a driver’s license. At 16, they can get licenses with some restrictions — such as prohibitions on unsupervised nighttime driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and a ban on using cell phones unless it is an emergency. At age 16 and a half, the young drivers can obtain full licenses, which still carry some restrictions unique to minors (such as a ban on transporting more than one passenger under age 21).

Gillibrand’s bill would require states to implement a three-step licensing process, beginning with a learner’s permit no earlier than age 16 followed by an intermediate phase and then, finally, full, non-restricted driver’s licensing no earlier than age 18. States would have three years to comply — or risk losing out on federal transportation dollars — as little as 3 percent of their federal highway funding in the first year of non-compliance, or as much as 10 percent after three years of non-compliance.

“it’s these kinds of consequences that have led states to” enact other driving restrictions “that keep us safe on the road,” Gillibrand noted. “It’s a very important issue that really should be addressed on the federal level.”

The measure would force states to mandate a number of restrictions on young drivers:

Passenger restrictions during learner’s permit and intermediate stage, including no more than one non-family member under the age of 21 when a learning teenage driver is behind the wheel, unless a licensed driver over 21 is in the vehicle.

A ban on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communication devices, including text messaging, during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages.

The secretary of transportation could establish additional requirements for states under the bill.

A similar measure is being advanced in the House with the support of New York Democrats Carolyn McCarthy, Charles Rangel and John Hall. Gillibrand’s measure is being co-sponsored by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Ct. Similar legislation has been proposed in previous congresses, but has not been enacted.

Gillibrand said she hoped to get the measure added to the next transportation spending bill debated by Congress. She is asking Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee that oversees transportation, to hold a hearing on the issue soon.